Spatial Characterization of Black Carbon Mass Concentration in the Atmosphere of a Southeast Asian Megacity: an Air Quality Case Study for Metro Manila, Philippines
Aerosol and Air Quality Research, 18: 2301–2317, 2018 Copyright © Taiwan Association for Aerosol Research ISSN: 1680-8584 print / 2071-1409 online doi: 10.4209/aaqr.2017.08.0281 Spatial Characterization of Black Carbon Mass Concentration in the Atmosphere of a Southeast Asian Megacity: An Air Quality Case Study for Metro Manila, Philippines Honey Dawn Alas1,2*, Thomas Müller1, Wolfram Birmili1,6, Simonas Kecorius1, Maria Obiminda Cambaliza2,3, James Bernard B. Simpas2,3, Mylene Cayetano4, Kay Weinhold1, Edgar Vallar5, Maria Cecilia Galvez5, Alfred Wiedensohler1 1 Leibniz Institute for Tropospheric Research, 04318 Leipzig, Germany 2 The Manila Observatory, Quezon City 1101, Philippines 3 Department of Physics, Ateneo de Manila University, Quezon City 1108, Philippines 4 Institute of Environmental Science and Meteorology, University of the Philippines, Quezon City 1101, Philippines 5 Applied Research for Community, Health and Environment Resilience and Sustainability (ARCHERS), De La Salle University, Manila 1004, Philippines 6 Federal Environment Agency, 14195 Berlin, Germany ABSTRACT Black carbon (BC) particles have gathered worldwide attention due to their impacts on climate and adverse health effects on humans in heavily polluted environments. Such is the case in megacities of developing and emerging countries in Southeast Asia, in which rapid urbanization, vehicles of obsolete technology, outdated air quality legislations, and crumbling infrastructure lead to poor air quality. However, since measurements of BC are generally not mandatory, its spatial and temporal characteristics, especially in developing megacities, are poorly understood. To raise awareness on the urgency of monitoring and mitigating the air quality crises in megacities, we present the results of the first intensive characterization experiment in Metro Manila, Philippines, focusing on the spatial and diurnal variability of equivalent BC (eBC).
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